May 20: Success and fail
Hi friends! Long time, no update over here. There really hasn’t been too much to report, besides the usual things and trying to hide the fact that all I want is eggs and toast on the blog, but today I had my first prenatal appointment.
It was both a success and a fail.
I had high hopes for this appointment, maybe too high, because a close friend is pregnant and we’re about the same amount along and she had an ultrasound yesterday. When she texted me the picture, my heart melted- I just wanted to see our little lentil so badly!
When I got to my appointment (with the madre, who came with me since the Pilot is still gone), I was 100% ready for my ultrasound… which never happened. They’re waiting two more weeks to give me mine since I’m still early (7 weeks) and they don’t see any reason why it should be pushed up. I was beyond bummed.
While I do feel the hints of being pregnant, this was going to be the thing to make it more real. I feel like I need proof like this is really happening, but instead I’m going to have to rely on faith that everything is ok in there, and be thankful that the Pilot will be here for the first ultrasound appointment. I told the midwife that “I just want it to be real” and she said, “honey, blood tests don’t lie.”
The good news is that I ADORE the midwife I met today. I’m seeing a group of midwives, who deliver the babies in a birthing center at a local hospital, and their C-section rate is 8%, compared to Tucson’s 25% average. I had a feeling that it would be a good experience, but I really had no idea it would be so wonderful.
The midwife I met with today -there are 8 and you meet with all of them, because only one midwife is on call for births per 24 hour shift- knew about ALL of the herbal supplements my homeopath has me on, and sat in the room as if she had all day to answer questions. Seriously, we could have had lunch together in there. She was so thorough, kind and patient- unlike my experiences with traditional doctors, I didn’t feel rushed in the least. I’m very, very fortunate to have been referred to this group, and hope that the rest of this whole shebang is just as pleasant 🙂
Even though I was so happy that the midwife was incredible, I still cried when I picked up my La Parrilla and discovered in the car that they had put cheese sauce on my to-go order. I had to compose myself before going back inside to switch it out for another one.
Raging hormones are a biotch haha.
18 Comments
Leave a Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
At our last duty station, the hospital/tricare? would only allow two ultrasounds one to determine/confirm the due date and one around 20 weeks. Here in Germany I had one every single visit… every 3 weeks, every other day from 40-41 weeks and every single day 41+ weeks. I was 41 + 5 days! It got real old real quick :p Hopefully you get more than two but less than 100 😉
My friend is newly pregnant, maybe 15 weeks-ish? And when she told me, she said it was sooo hard to wait for her first appoint at 8 weeks. As soon as you know, I’m sure you are in “action mode” and want to start checking things off your list, like appointments! I’m sure it takes plenty of patience to just trust the docs and nurses and go with the flow. Congrats again!
ooo will you post more about midwives? I’m like 98% sure I’m going to go with a midwife when it is our time.
yes for sure!
yay!
Congratulations on your pregnancy! I’ve been reading your blog for about a year now, not really commenting, but enjoying all your recipes and workout tips, and I was so happy to read your news yesterday! I’m a huge proponent of natural childbirth, so I think it’s amazing that you’re using a midwife. 🙂
I’m so not a baby person, but I’m enjoying your family posts so far.
Have you seen “The Business of Being Born?” It’s a very good documentary about home births with midwives versus hospital births.
i have seen it and read the book. fantastic and so informational
Hi Gina Girl,
How did you select the hospital and doctor? What criterias did u keep in mind? U have me bawling and laughing at the same time…your response to getting cheese on your to go order cracked me up…but i understand about those insane hormones…even on regular days they are a biotch.
i asked the base nurse what she had heard. i told her i wanted a midwife and knew she’d have the inside info and gave me the incredible recommendation
Your post brought back a lot of memories. I, too, was excited to have a midwife deliver my first baby at a local birthing center back in 2004. They told me the same thing – their c-section rates were much lower than the average. Unfortunately, as soon as blood tests confirmed I had gestational diabetes, they dropped me like a hot potato. They didn’t “do” high-risk pregnancies. So there I was, devastated, 24+ weeks pregnant, high-risk(!), and no health care provider. I had to scramble to find a obstetrician. Now I realize that a good part of the low c-section rate is due to the fact that they drop the patients most likely to have c-sections – the high-risk group. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that you get the birth experience you want with your midwife.
oh good to know! i hope so, too
I have a midwife center with a birthing inn too (although I’ll probably opt for the hospital just cause it’s my firstborn and I have no idea what to expect, hence I want to have all options open), and the midwives are absolutely FANTASTIC! I adore each and every one of them, they’re so nice and friendly and really make you feel taken care of.
However, our ultrasound tech is the most grumpy lady I’ve met there! She never seems into her job or friendly at all, so that puts a little bummer on these exciting moments. 🙁 But all in all, midwifery all the way! I hear so many horror stories about women choosing a regular OB and never feeling taken care of at all.
So happy you found a great experience finding a mid wife! Great to know the birthing center is in a hospital…that’s so important! Traditional doctors do rush you so that’s amazing you had all that time with them!
I firmly support a woman’s choice to whatever birthing practice she deems right for her, but I do feel so heartened to see more women choosing alternatives to intervention-based birthing! We are working on a baby project right now (i.e having one!), but I have been reading so much about birthing intervention in my recreational and academic reading. The politics and business of childbirth (See Ricki Lake’s film “The Business of Being Born” if you haven’t already) are messy, and ultimately (like so often) it is women who get slighted. Ultimately, I believe that no one possesses more skill and intuition in birthing than the Mama, herself. Congratulations and enjoy every moment!
i’ve read it (and seen the documentary) and couldn’t agree more 🙂
Midwife YAY!!! I loved my midwife, I seriously never want to see a real dr. ever again!! I felt important and informed and she helped me all throughout the pregnancy and childbirth. She was massaging my back during back labor… I hope you don’t have to experience that 🙂
Congratulations on your pregnancy! That is amazing news! I love that you are going the midwife route- I delivered my son with a group of midwives in Tucson last year (I’m in Phoenix but it was worth the drive even while in labor). 🙂 Let me know if you want me to share any of my experiences with you- it all seems like it was just yesterday…. Again, huge congrats to you and the Pilot!